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Sebastian Vettel delivers four letter verdict on F1’s new engines

Kevin Eason

March 28 2014, 12:00am, The Times

The hate campaign against Formula One’s futuristic high-technology engines found a new leader yesterday after Sebastian Vettel, the world champion, described the whispering hybrid power packs as “s***”.

Just as F1 was supposed to be pioneering a future of fuel efficiency and less dependence on oil, Vettel stepped in before Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix to register his high-profile disapproval of the £300 million power packs that have robbed the sport of its most enduring and exciting feature: noise.

Bernie Ecclestone, F1’s chief executive, has waged war on the new engines, even though he is supposed to be in charge of the global sport. Vettel is a close ally of the wily impresario, but his opinion will carry weight among millions of fans around the world…